Neanderthals Were the First Artists: 66,000-Year-Old Hand Stencils in Maltravieso Cave Discovered!
A remarkable find in Maltravieso Cave, situated in Extremadura, Spain, has upended long-held beliefs about the origins of human artistic expression. Researchers have revealed that Neanderthals, not modern humans, were likely the world’s first artists, creating hand stencil rock art over 66,000 years ago.
Photo Credit: C. D., Standish et al., Journal of Archaeological Science, Reports (2025)
Ancient Art and Advanced Minds
Using uranium-thorium (U-series) dating, an international team of archaeologists from the University of Southampton and institutions across Great Britain and Spain have determined the age of the artwork. Their findings, published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, confirm that the red hand stencils in Maltravieso Cave are among the earliest examples of intentional visual art.
The cave contains over 60 hand stencils, and while their precise ages were previously unknown, the application of U-series dating has provided clarity. The method measures the uranium-to-thorium conversion within calcium carbonate crusts that formed over the stencils, revealing minimum ages. The oldest sample dates back 66,700 years, with others dating to approximately 55,200 and 46,600 years ago. This places the art firmly within the Middle Paleolithic period, indicating that Neanderthals were the creators.
Revolutionising Perceptions of Neanderthals
This discovery challenges stereotypes of Neanderthals as primitive and uncreative. Instead, it highlights their cognitive sophistication and cultural achievements, adding to a growing body of evidence that includes symbolic use of pigments, burial practices, and intricate tool-making.
Neanderthals were already known to have created symbolic red dot art in Spain’s La Pasiega Cave over 64,800 years ago. These findings collectively build a stronger case for Neanderthals as innovators of symbolic and creative expression, long before modern humans entered the scene.
Photo Credit: C. D., Standish et al., Journal of Archaeological Science, Reports (2025)
A Global Artistic Tradition?
The Maltravieso stencils are not only a testament to Neanderthal ingenuity but also shed light on the evolution of artistic traditions in Europe. The hand stencil art in this region predates similar practices elsewhere. For instance, hand stencil art in Indonesia’s Leang Timpuseng Cave dates back 39,900 years, while potential impressions on the Tibetan Plateau, dated to around 200,000 years ago, remain debated regarding their artistic intent.
These discoveries suggest that Europe’s artistic traditions emerged tens of thousands of years earlier than previously thought, with Neanderthals playing a pioneering role.
Rewriting Human History
While some of the Maltravieso cave art could have been created by modern humans around 6,000 years ago, the evidence overwhelmingly supports Neanderthal authorship of the oldest stencils. Variations in moisture and carbonate formation over millennia have made precise dating challenging for certain images, but the findings reaffirm Neanderthals as capable artists.
The implications of this discovery are profound. Not only do they redefine our understanding of Neanderthals, but they also reshape the narrative of human history. These ancient hand stencils serve as enduring reminders that the desire to create and express is a universal trait, transcending species and eras.
Maltravieso Cave stands as a testament to the creative spirit of our distant relatives, offering a glimpse into a world where the line between art and survival blurred, and creativity flourished against the odds.